UPFRONT | Roundup COMMENTARY Implications of prescription rights for chiropractors In a number of jurisdictions, chiro-practors have developed ad-vanced standards of practice, in-cluding the ability to order advanced diagnostic imaging as well as prescription rights for a limited formulary of medications. Recent reports indicate that a growing number of chiropractors in various other jurisdictions are also interested in expanding their scopes of practice to include such limited formulary access. Chiropractors in Switzerland have had limited prescriptive au-thority since 1995, and surveys indicate that these privileges are regarded by Swiss chiropractors as a distinct advantage for both the profession and patients in that country. Despite the advances in some jurisdictions, the right to prescribe medications continues to be a contentious issue for many in the chiropractic profession. The objective of this commen-tary was to examine the arguments for and against limited medication prescription rights for chiroprac-tors, and to discuss the implica-tions of implementing such privi-leges for the profession. If limited to a musculoskeletal scope, medication prescription rights have the potential to change the present role of chiropractors within the health-care system by practic has been developed. Chiropractors who wish to pur-sue limited prescriptive authority should lobby their professional associations and regulatory bodies to engage in dialogue with like-minded politicians and third-party payers to highlight and promote the benefits of making such changes to the existing health-care system. Prior to this, discussions should take place within the chiropractic profession in order to present a uniform posi-tion on the part of the various memberships with respect to changing the profession’s scope of practice. If such a move is to occur, it would be important that profes-sional governing bodies, associa-tions and respective member-ships provide a united approach, perhaps initially validated after member consultation in the form of national surveys. – Peter Emary, Taco Houweling, Martin Wangler, Stephen Burnie, Katherine Hood and Mark Erwin paving the way for practitioners to become comprehensive special-ists in the conservative manage-ment of spine/musculoskeletal disorders. This is in keeping with a current move within the profes-sion toward “rebranding” itself to align with a musculoskeletal scope of practice and a more compre-hensive approach to patient care. Limited prescribing rights for chi-ropractors could also benefit pa-tients and the health-care system by providing more streamlined, cost-effective care plus reduced waiting times for patients. Moreover, with such privileges chiropractors could have a positive influence on public health. However, if the chiropractic profession wishes to expand its scope of practice to include limit-ed prescriptive authority, neces-sary changes to chiropractic edu-cation and legislation must be addressed. For this, the profes-sion could look to Switzerland where an excellent educational and legislative model for chiro-This article was selected by the editorial team of the Chiropractic & Manual Therapies journal as the best paper for the third quarter of 2016. The full commentary of this paper has been published and can be freely accessed online at the following URL: http://chiromt. biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12998-016-0114-y CONTINUING EDUCATION RRS Education seminars to benefit World Spine Care World Spine Care will be the beneficiary of a seminar series designed to educate chiropractic practitioners on the latest research and promote evidence-based practice. Dr. Shawn Thistle, founder and CEO of RRS Education, will donate $10 per registra-tion to his upcoming RRS 12 Canadian Chiropractor April 2017 Education Seminars across Canada this spring. These informative, evidence-based and clinically-applicable seminars will feature interest-ing and important topics like neck pain, osteoarthritis, spinal health and visceral conditions, pain neurosci-ence and others. “RRS Education Seminar attendees will enjoy an enter-taining, contextual review of current research and gain practical, patient-centred understanding of how these topics pertain to patient care,” Thistle said. Events are now available for registration in Ottawa (April 1 -2), Calgary (April 22 -23), Edmonton (May 6 -7), Owen Sound (June 3) and Vancouver (June 10 -11). “I am proud to support World Spine Care by donat-ing $10 per attendee at the 2017 Seminars to this worthy cause,” Thistle said. For event details or to reg-ister for a seminar, visit: http://www.rrseducation. com/seminars www.canadianchiropractor.ca
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